Goal setting

Through this journey, I have set goals for myself. Some have been very short term, some have been long term. Some I have shared publicly some have been told only to Jen. But one thing I have found out is that setting a goal when it comes to fitness makes the journey that much more special.

Some of the goals that I have set for myself have been to run a 5K (check); run a 10K (check); lose 100 pounds (check); and to just plain feel better (check, check, check).

I was recently at my CrossFit “box” in Medfield when my coach mentioned he was putting up a “goals” and “accomplishments” section of the board in the back of the gym. The idea was for members to write down goals they have (in life and fitness) and the accomplishments they have made. This got me thinking.

What goals did I want to accomplish? I decided to focus mainly on fitness/athletic goals. After figuring out that getting a roster spot with the Patriots would probably be an unattainable goal, I started to narrow my focus.

Since starting CrossFit with Spencer Hendel and Luis Alvarez (www.reebokcrossfitmedfield.com), I have started to realize things I am really good at (just about anything with heavy weights, specifically the deadlift and back squat) and not so good at some of the “muscle up” movements, specifically pull-ups.

Because of my inability, right now, to do a pull-up, Spencer has come up with scaling options for me (as he does with all other CrossFit members), which have included banded pull-ups, box pull-ups and jumping pull-ups. These have all helped me through many of the strenuous workouts both Spencer and Luis put the group through, but it doesn’t change the fact that I can’t do a straight pull-up. So goal #1 was now set.

With Spencer Hendel (left) and Luis Alvarez (right)
at Reebok CrossFit Medfield.

When I was thinking of another goal, my wife Jen started talking about doing a three-pack series of half-marathons in Rhode Island. Now she is the runner of the couple, make no bones about it. But she is the one who has gotten me to do multiple races – 5K, 10K and 5-miler. But the longest race I have done in my life was the 10K (6.2-miles), and the only reason to even attempt that was the finish line was at the 50-yard line of Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. So attempting to more than DOUBLE that has me equal parts scared shitless and intrigued.

So when I put that on the board at Medfield CrossFit that I also wanted to run a half marathon, Spencer looked at me, smiled, and said “Let’s do it.” One thing about Spencer is he loves to incorporate running into as many workouts as possible. Basically, if it is 40+ outside, I can expect some sort of run to be part of the day’s activities. The not-so-fun part (besides, you know, running) is that a majority of the distance is UPHILL because of where the gym is situated.

This week alone, we did one workout with three rounds of 400-meter runs (on top of whatever else was in the workout) and another that had five rounds of 400-meter runs (again, with other activities included).

But the support from fellow CrossFitters has been tremendous, and one of the reasons I have really taken to these workouts is that community feel. On Friday, one member, Amanda, who I have had her children in camps and classes since I started working in Medfield, offered to be my pace during the half marathon I choose. Others have offered encouraging words and ask me about my goals, and Spencer has looked into getting groups together to compete in some races.

In order to attain that larger goal of competing in and finishing a half marathon, I have to work on a smaller goal, which is to shed about 25 pounds to get to a weight that is comfortable to run 13.1 miles in. Since I started a CrossFit diet, I am down about 8 pounds in less than 2 weeks, so I am on my way.

On Saturday, during an outdoor adventure race training class with Robert Foster (www.kickboxingisforme.com), I ran my first sustainable distances since last summer. And, oddly enough, it felt good. It felt as though those brutal 400-meter runs uphill were actually meaning something.

With some races and runs coming up, including the Bold R Dash in Westerly, the Harpoon 5-Miler in Boston and the Tough Mudder in NH, it will soon be time to narrow that focus again and pick a 13.1-mile race in which to attempt to conquer. I am looking forward to the journey towards accomplishing that major goal.